We may be getting a little girl.....

[Mummato2]

Did they give you an indication of how long it takes to fast track?

How exciting

[ladybirdflies]

What an awesome update!!! So wonderful, I look forward to hearing how you all transition x

[Smoke Jaguar]

Heaps of learning - it'll be so wonderful for all of you, and an amazing connection to Country you'll gain from your learnings!
Yep, from now on her development takes precedence over your schedule

[PumpkinZulu]

Amongst all your preparation to care for the little girl, make sure you look after YOU too yeah? Parenting a two year old is bloody hard work, not to mention a special case like this. What sort of supports to you have for yourself? I'm especially thinking about the agoraphobia. Does fostering come with some form of foster carer support network, like other foster parents, counsellors etc?

[Mummato2]

2 year olds are at such a divine age. Seriously. They are learning so quickly but get frustrated because their brains far outrun their ability and the result is tantrums etx.

I loved this age with both my kiddos but oh my gosh - thank God for hubby respite and days off without little people!!

I second PZ's advice. Have set time aside for respite and an army around you to bounce off.

Keep this thread alive and allow us to be your online cheer squad xxx

Just be sure to have some around you as well (which I remember reading will be your mumma and sis)

[meow]

Does fostering come with some form of foster carer support network, like other foster parents, counsellors etc?

That's a good point. Many mothers get to join a mother's group at birth at it can be a great support and good way to get you and your little out of the house in the middle of crazy! Check out playgroups australia to find playgroups near you to join up and build up that network.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Yep, there's Foster Carers Association of WA, which have regular meetups and a helpline. We're also entitled to a weekend of respite every month, which my parents are getting ready for, so she'll know them. And DCP at the end of the phone at any time. For me, because I'm going through the public system, I have a community nurse I can call during business hours, and an emergency team outside of business hours. I've also found that if I'm doing something for someone else, the agoraphobia doesn't have as much impact as normal - I spent almost 48 hours at the hospital with my sister when she was in labour, in the same clothes, no makeup, no brush, ordering around midwives who weren't listening to her, holding her hands while she got her epidural, etc, and not a single panic attack. It's only when it's for me that I get trouble.

I also found out yesterday that the congregation that meets in the same church as us has an Aboriginal family who have 4 of their own children, and they foster a further 5! So as soon as we move back, we'll be making friends with them and picking their brains about culture in daily life, etc.

Plus, I've got BB!

PS - I didn't say it before, but I understand where y'all are coming from with your concern, and it's very sweet that you care so much about me, thank you

[nothing2lose]

We also care about the little girl don't forget!

When will you know? How soon after will she move in with you?

[Mummato2]

I feel like an excited clucky aunt!

[Jennifer13]

All the best for the approval process! The foster carers near you will probably also be happy to give you moral and practical support.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

The process normally takes 4 or 5 months, but I'm not sure if they'll speed it up because there's a particular child involved. Plus it'll be graduated, she won't just be given to us one day, and I have no idea how long that process will take.

I didn't know I could get anymore excited, but I am!

[Mummato2]

Hey Keike,

How is this all going? You popped into my head this morning.

How did the sleeve go? We had a friend who had hers the week before yours - she's doing well, sore but well.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Hi hi! I haven't actually heard anything yet, I meant to ring today but I've been flat out and I've gotta go pick up the nephews from school in about 10 seconds. All our paperwork has been in for a few weeks now, so we're waiting on them.

Sleeve went really well! The first few days were a bit sore, but since then I've been really good. 23 kilos down, and a lot of cms! I keep forgetting to take the measurements first thing, lol. Hopefully your friend starts feeling better soon

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Just got a call from my aunt - Z's Mum told her she thinks she's pregnant again. Given that she's still taking drugs, our lives may get a whole lot more complicated in about 7 months.....

Excited but concerned about being given a baby with withdrawals, I have a lot more research to do.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Spoke to DCP yesterday, and they're waiting on our medical records. Somewhere along the line our fasttrack status got lost, so the case worker told me it would be about 6 months! I gave her the name of Z's case worker and she was going to ring yesterday and let me know, but I haven't heard anything. From what I've been told by Z's case worker, the family she's with need her to be moved on, but don't want her to be bounced from home to home, they want her to go from them to her permanent home, so it needs to happen faster.

I spoke to my aunt yesterday, and apparently when Z's Mum told her Mum that she might be pregnant, they both said it would be nice for me because I'll get a newborn. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about it and we're prepared/preparing to take on this added responsibility, but it makes me a little bit sad that she's not even going to try with this new bub. I hope she stops the drinking/drugs during the pregnancy at least - I spent most of yesterday reading about the potential effects on the baby and I didn't realise it was anywhere near as serious as it can be.

[nothing2lose]

So you will take both children? The toddler and the newborn? If the original toddler (Z?) needs to be placed sooner than the six months it will take for your checks and training, etc, does that mean the family who she is placed with will also have the newborn (if she is pregnant)???

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I'm not sure how far along she is, but she's only just found out, so I'm pretty sure the newborn will come to us. TBH I expected it to happen in the future, because she's only just 18, but I didn't expect it to be so soon! There's no question in our minds though, that if she is pregnant and does give the baby up, we will take it. It's going to be a heck of a learning curve though! I have had experience with both age groups though, with my various niblings (love that word). Even down to the sleeplessness a newborn brings, when my sister has been sick.

The current placement family keep reassessing every 3 months, so now that the care worker can say they've got somewhere for her to go, I'm sure they'll keep her until then. As far as I've been told, the reason she's moving on is because they are an older couple who were only doing short term care, there's not actually a problem. Just today I got a call from my doctor to come in and help with the medical records part of the application, so I've been in and done that, and hopefully after chatting with my case worker yesterday, they'll be speeding things along.

[Mummato2]

Wow!! That is such a huge step!! Newborns are amazing, drug addicted bubbas need a lot of love and patience.

More than ever, in this scenario, make sure all safety nets are in place and support for you is strong.

Keep us posted! Whatever happens you'll be ok. They won't give you more than you can handle - I'm crossing everything for you xx